07/09/2010

North Haiti Christian University

Jules and Laurie Casseus, North Haiti Christian University

Jules and Laurie Casseus met in 1974 in Rochester, NY, where Jules was completing seminary at Rochester Colgate Divinity School, and Laurie was completing her master's degree at the Eastman School of Music (University of Rochester). Both of them are native Haitians, with Laurie's parents (Drs. Ivah and Harold Heneise) being the founders of The Haitian Baptist Theological Seminary. Through the years the Seminary trained hundreds of church leaders, many of whom went on to become pastors in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, the United States, and Canada. Jules and Laurie were married in 1977, at which time they returned to Haiti and began work at the Seminary. In 1981, Jules became the Seminary president. In 1994 the Seminary transformed into a full university - Université Chrétienne du Nord d'Haïti (UCNH, or North Haiti Christian University). The University offers degrees in Theology, Agriculture, Business, and Fine Arts. Future plans include a School of Public Health and a School of Engineering.

As director of the University, Jules oversees a large staff of dedicated instructors. They currently have a total of 370 students. In the above photos, seniors are required to offer a defense of their senior project before a jury of three instructors, as well as answering questions from their fellow students. Several of the graduates have returned to teach, while others have gone on to be church and business leaders in their communities.

Laurie's responsibilities include teaching music and leading the University choir program. The music program trains students to be worship leaders in support of local churches.

The UCNH campus, located in Ba Limbe, a village to the southwest of Cap Haitien, is a beautiful mixture of unique architecture and lush gardens. The focal point is the Chapel (top left), where church services and classes take place. Separate dorm facilities for both men (top right) and women (not pictured) are on-site so that students from outside Cap Haitien/Ba Limbe need not commute. The campus includes an ampitheater (bottom left), where graduation and musical performances take place. The School of Agriculture utilizes a large greenhouse as part of its program (bottom right).

As part of the future School of Public Health, the University operates a medical clinic that reaches out to the poor and needy in the surrounding area. Reliv has donated thousands of cases of its nutritional supplements that are designed especially for the needs of young children.

Jules and Laurie Casseus have spent almost 30 years together serving the Lord in Haiti. To learn more about them and their ministry, friends and supporters are encouraged to visit the Haiti Hope Fund website, or write to them at the following mail and e-mail addresses: